Power source for fridge whist travelling?
I've a Motorhome Bolero 714SB with 2 habitation batterys. When travelling on a 5 hour trip to our destination should I run the fridge on habitation batterys or gas? On arrival we're always hooked up to electric. Your thoughts please..
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Battery, we never travel with the gas on.
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Battery. I wouldn't have thought it would be a good idea to travel in a vehicle with a naked flame just in case of accidents ..... whether you were directly involved or not.
If its an absorption fridge, wont it run off the alternator when driving rather than the habitation batteries like it does on a caravan?
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You should not have the option or possibility to run the fridge from the habitation batteries.
When 12v is selected a relay will operate diverting power from the engine's alternator direct to the fridge, but only when the engine is running.
Your owners manual should make this clear.
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See page 8 of your Quickstart manual which gives you the same info that I posted above:
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yes, when the 'battery' is selected on the fridge when driving, its the vehicle alternator that supplies the power. it also charges your vehicle and leisure batteries.
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We have a built-in LPG tank and I read that Truma now have a cut-off valve so that gas could be used on the move, however, my dealer was definite that you cannot travel and use gas heating etc. If you have cylinders you certainly should switch the gas off before setting off
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I ponder that on some cylinders that have clip-on connectors, 13Kg Calor and Gaslight to name but two. No actual facility to positively turn off the gas at the cylinder.
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Our van has an under-slung tank. It also has an electrical gas isolator which shuts off the gas supply near the tank whilst the engine is running. You can turn the gas off with a valve on the under- slung tank, if you first put the van on ramps then crawl under it on your back.
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Without knowing anything about Paolo's fridge, I can't help him other than to say our fridge has an automatic selection button and we tend to switch that on and leave the fridge to find the best source of power.
If you have the Truma crash protection cut off, then you can travel with the gas on. We've been travelling with the gas on most of the time since 2000 when our van had an approved system. There are places where the gas/ignition should be off such as fuel stations and tunnels. Many motorhomers travel with the gas on and, it seems, at least as many insist on it being switched off.
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Thanks to one and all. Mostly everyone says use engine battery whilst driving. The handbook says
"When using 12V (from the towing
vehicle / motorhome alternator) to power
the fridge, the fridge will only maintain its
temperature, and will not ‘cool’ further. 230V or
Gas power should be used for a sufficient time
to cool the fridge prior to using 12V power".So you have to use gas/electric prior to departure then vehicle battery to retain the reached temperature knowing the vehicle battery will not cool any further.
My fridge has an auto function. We bring vehicle home night before to load. Fridge only switched on when travelling to destination. Knowing now that the vehicle battery doesn't cool explains why my chocolate mouse is warm on arrival! Here on I'll pre-
chill fridge with gas then auto mode will switch to vehicle battery on route.
Thanks everyone. Another aspect of my learning curve now sorted.
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You've got it, Paolo, except that you need to erase all thoughts of a 'battery' being involved. There is no connection between any battery and the fridge (except on some models the habitation 12V battery powers the fridge igniter).
When the engine is running the fridge is powered directly from the engine's alternator and there is no battery involved at all. The fridge never runs from a battery (any battery) at any time.
Yes, cool the fridge before putting food inside either by mains hook-up or by gas, then your 'auto' function will do the rest.
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I think the symbol is at fault for this misconception, ours shows a little battery. A picture of a vehicle would be more appropriate.
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Sorry, Spriddler, it will depend on the TYPE of fridge == mine is a Compressor fridge & only works on electrickery, and with a twin prod of my index finger I can power mine up, from the habitation battery, anywhere even in the car park outside my favourite M & S Foodhall !!
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With the Truma cut-out you can travel with the gas on and, in fact, with AutoSleepers the LPG tank is left permanently on except on Eurotunnel, however, when the engine is started you can't use the heating as far as I know. Haven't tried the fridge but on auto it switches to 12 volts anyway.
Cyberyaught, Gaslight clip-on connectors have an isolating lever in the connector.
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It's the KISS Response, ABM. I gave Paolo to a link to his fridge Users Manual and even told him what page to look at. Paolo hasn't got your fridge.
I could have written a half page treatise to cover all fridge options and possibilities (and to demonstrate how clever I am.
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Even the CEGB
Ahh.....that takes me back to the good old days, my dad worked for them, and after an RTC with his Triumph 2000 Estate he borrowed one of their orange Transit vans to tow our caravan on a family holiday.....
As kids we were so chuffed, and I can still remember the smell of oily tools in the back.......
Happy days.....
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Following my previous reply I've just re-read my 'there's no battery' post.
You have a point in that some fridges can be run from a battery so maybe I should've been more specific and written each time: 'your' fridge instead of 'the' fridge.
I was trying hard to stay focused and comment strictly and only on Paolo's situation and to give as unambiguous a reply as possible as so many subjects seem to drift off topic into irrelevance and confusion!
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Posted on 22/07/2017 09:35 by Spriddler
There is no connection between any battery and the fridge (except on some models the habitation 12V battery powers the fridge igniter).
When the engine is running the fridge is powered directly from the engine's alternator and there is no battery involved at all. The fridge never runs from a battery (any battery) at any time.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Of course the fridge is connected to the vehicle battery via the vehicle 12v circuit,it is not connected directly to the alternator.
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Automation is a wonderful thing-sometimes. Our Thetford fridge is brilliant. It keeps cool when the MH is 35 deg. C. and it is fully automatic - it switches to engine when moving, gas when stationary and mains when on EHU. Setting off in France the fridge showed an error so was not working. It was during the recent hot spell so of serious concern. So, at the next stop I got all the manuals out to look up the error code. To cut a long story short, I eventually realised that that the fridge had somehow been put on "manual - mains" so, of course, couldn't function as we were travelling. Simply switched back to Auto and all was well. Haven't a clue how the setting changed.
As I say, automation is a wonderful thing!
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"You may return to your seat ABM Minor, and may I suggest that next time you are more diligent with your homework? " I am now familiar with the risk in giving a specific, basic, and concise reply on a 'need to know' basis, as opposed to a comprehensive technical review of other options and alternatives.
Ever Yours,
Sprid
Suitably chastised, and wiser.
(Good here, innit?)
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despite my having been 'Deleted User' a time or three for being irrelevant and / or off topic.
